Selling car with Power of Attorney (POA)
- Jagannath Chalasani
- Aug 13, 2022
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
You're back in Hyderabad, or Bengaluru, or Dubai, or London. And there's a US document sitting unsigned — a power of attorney so your friend can sell your car, a sale agreement, an affidavit, something a bank or a title office needs before anything can move.
Flying back isn't happening. The embassy has a three-week wait for a notary appointment, if you can get one at all.
You don't need either. Remote Online Notarization lets you sign in front of a commissioned Ohio notary over live video, from wherever you are, and get the notarized document back the same session.
📞 Text or WhatsApp (614) 438-5859 and tell us what you're signing and where you are. We'll tell you within a few hours whether we can do it
What Remote Online Notarization actually is
Ohio authorizes notaries to perform notarizations by live audio-video connection. It's not a workaround or a grey area — it's a specific commission that Ohio notaries have to qualify for separately, and we hold it.
Here's what a session looks like:
You send us the document as a PDF, in advance
We schedule a time that works in your timezone
You join a video session from your laptop or phone
We verify your identity on camera
You sign electronically while we watch
We apply our electronic seal and digital certificate
You get the completed, notarized document back — usually within minutes
Start to finish, most sessions run 15 to 20 minutes. The whole recording is retained as part of the notarial record, which is one reason receiving parties tend to trust these documents.
What you'll need
A government-issued photo ID — have it physically with you, not a photo of it
A device with a working camera and microphone — laptop is easier than phone
A stable internet connection — this is the one that ruins sessions, so use wifi, not mobile data if you can
Your document as a PDF, complete and unsigned
About 20 minutes somewhere quiet
The timezone problem, solved
This is the part that makes remote notarization actually workable from Asia and the Gulf, and it's why we keep the hours we do.
Our weekend mornings are your evenings.
You're in | Our Sat/Sun 8:00 AM ET is your |
India | 5:30 PM |
UAE | 4:00 PM |
UK | 1:00 PM |
Singapore | 8:00 PM |
Australia (Sydney) | 10:00 PM |
Let's be straight about identity verification
This is where remote notarization sometimes doesn't work, and we'd rather tell you now than take your money and fail.
Identity verification for remote sessions typically relies on analysing your government ID and, in many cases, knowledge-based authentication — a short quiz drawn from US public and credit records. If you've spent years in the US, you'll usually pass without thinking about it. If you were only in the US briefly, or never built US credit history, that step can fail.
Ohio law does allow for alternatives in some circumstances, including identification through a credible witness. Whether that route is available depends on your specific situation.
So: contact us before you book, tell us what ID you hold and how long you were in the US, and we'll give you an honest read on whether it will work. If it won't, we'll tell you that too, and point you at the alternatives below.
If remote notarization isn't an option for you
Two other routes exist. Both work; both are slower.
US Embassy or Consulate. American diplomatic posts provide notarial services for US documents. It's reliable, but appointments are often booked weeks out and the fee is higher than you'd expect.
Local notary plus apostille. Have the document notarized by a notary in the country you're in, then apostilled by that country's designated authority. If you're in India, that means the Ministry of External Affairs. This works well for documents heading to US recipients who accept it, but it adds a couple of weeks.
We can talk you through which is likely to suit your document. That conversation is free.
What people actually use this for
Selling a car you left behind. The most common one. Ohio uses Form BMV 3771 to appoint someone to handle a vehicle title assignment on your behalf, and the BMV won't accept a power of attorney without the principal's notarized signature. Get that signed remotely and your friend or relative here can complete the sale.
Property powers of attorney. For property here in the US, or documents heading to India.
Affidavits and sale agreements. Employment, tenancy, insurance, family matters.
Bank and financial documents that require a notarized signature.
One check to make first: ask the party receiving your document whether they accept an electronically notarized document. Most banks and businesses do. Some government counters and title offices still prefer paper with a wet-ink seal, and it's much easier to find that out before your session than after. Tell us who the recipient is and we'll help you work out what to ask them.
What we can't do
We're notaries, not attorneys. We can't draft your power of attorney, tell you what authority to grant, choose a form for you, or advise on what a bank or title office will accept. Bring a completed document.
What we can do is verify your identity, witness your signature, and produce a properly executed notarial certificate — from anywhere in the world.
Sending documents to India as well?
If you've moved back permanently, the car is rarely the only thing on the list. Property powers of attorney going to India have their own authentication rules, and they trip people up — if you're a US citizen without an OCI card, your POA needs an apostille before the Indian Consulate will attest it.
We handle apostille and consular attestation alongside notarization.
Book a session
Tell us what you're signing, where you are, and what ID you hold. We'll confirm whether remote notarization will work for you before you pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell my car after I've already left the US?
Yes. You'll need a notarized power of attorney authorizing someone here to handle the sale, and you can sign that remotely with us. Contact us first so we can confirm the identity verification will work for your ID.
Does the BMV 3771 have to be notarized?
For a private sale, yes — the BMV won't accept a power of attorney without the principal's notarized signature. There's a limited exception for licensed Ohio dealers who own or are purchasing the vehicle.
How long does a session take?
Usually 15 to 20 minutes. We book 45 so there's room if the connection is slow or you'd like to take your time.
Can I use a general power of attorney instead of the BMV form?
Ask the Clerk of Courts title office in your county before relying on one. The BMV form exists specifically for this purpose, and using it avoids arguments at the counter.
Can I do this over video from another country? Sometimes. Ohio permits Remote Online Notarization, but identity verification usually requires a US-issued ID and knowledge-based authentication built on US records. Contact us with your situation and we'll tell you honestly whether it's likely to work before you pay for anything.
What if my car still has a loan on it?
The lien has to be paid off and released before the title can transfer. Start that conversation with your lender early — it's the step most likely to delay a sale.
Can you fill out the form for me?
No. We're notaries, not attorneys, so we can't prepare documents or advise on their contents. Bring the form completed and we'll notarize your signature.
Can you come to me?
Yes. Mobile service throughout Central Ohio, evenings and weekends.
Notary of Lewis Center
(614) 438-5859 · Book online
Mon–Fri 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM ·
Sat–Sun 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Related: How to Notarize a Vehicle Title Transfer in Ohio · Ohio Vehicle Title Transfer Process · Remote Online Notary · Apostille or Consulate Attestation for a POA Going to India · Peace-of-Mind Document Checklist for Indian Families in the US
Notary of Lewis Center is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We do not prepare documents. Requirements and fees are set by the Ohio BMV and your County Clerk of Courts and can change — please confirm current requirements with the title office handling your transfer.
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